Finding the perfect pair of wedding shoes

You've got the dress and the veil. You've picked out the perfect jewelry and your mom gave you the pearls from her wedding to wear. Your hair trials are complete and you've hired a make-up artist. You even took a trip to Victoria's Secret to buy the perfect support garments that'll make you look great but feel comfortable. The only thing left to find is the perfect pair of shoes.

Whether you're a shoe-obsessed Carrie Bradshaw, or you only own two pairs of shoes (sneakers and a ballet flat) like me, picking out the shoes you want to wear on your wedding day can be stressful. You're either trying to find the perfect matched pair to fit your budget, or you're worrying about finding shoes that you can tolerate wearing all night. Keep this advice in mind when you're shopping around.

Take comfort into consideration. Chances are you'll be donning those kicks for at least eight hours or more. And as the newlywed, you won't be doing much sitting. You'll be floating from table to table, greeting guests, and honoring dance requests. While some alcohol may dampen the pain of blisters and throbbing feet, more than likely the pain will come back full-throttle. And we all know that blisters hurt worse on day two, which is likely to be the start of your honeymoon. If you absolutely must have a pair of shoes that you know is going to contort your feet worse than Cinderella's stepsisters, consider bringing a pair of slippers or flip flops to change into during the reception. Whatever you do, don't opt to go barefoot. Inevitably someone will drop and break a glass, and getting cut (or stepping in a puddle of red wine) won't make your night any more magical.

Add a personal touch. Whether you can't find the perfect pair of heels or your budget won't let you buy the dream shoes, know that it's pretty easy to dress up a cheap pair on your own. Mod Podge, hot glue guns, fabric paint, brooches and jewels can go a long way. For my own wedding, I intended to take a $15 pair of low heels and decoupage lace on the shoe to match my dress. Pinterest and craft websites have tons of how-tos on creating personalized and accessorized wedding shoes for any style.

Don't forget the penny. If you're the superstitious type, then you've heard the age-old wedding rhyme: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a penny in your shoe! I don't suggest putting a penny in your shoe. It's incredibly uncomfortable, and if you're wearing open toes, the coin is likely to fall out. If, however, you are wearing heels, an alternative to the penny in your shoe is to glue a penny under the shoe, behind the heel. I used hot glue to do this with my wedding shoes. Make sure to glue the penny someplace where it won't interfere with walking. For example, don't glue the penny to the ball of the shoe or the bottom of the heel. Not only will it affect your balance, it will also make your stride more slippery.

You don't have to wear white (or heels). A huge trend lately is to use your shoes as an opportunity to show a pop of color or personality. Some brides choose to use their shoes as their "something blue," while others like to match their shoes to the wedding theme colors. If you're daring and want to break even further from tradition, consider wearing a fun pair of sneakers or flip flops. Many tradition-bending woman are opting for comfort and fun over traditional "pretty" heels and glamour.

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